Method of and means for blocking or corrugating headers for steam boilers



R. REES. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR BLOCKING 0R CORRUGATI NG HEADERS FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

2 SiiEETS-SHEET I.

NAZI;

INVEAIFTOE R. REES.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR BLOCKING on CORRUGATING HEADERS FOB STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, I92! Patented May 9, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

{NI/EN 706 Fees Fees 5/ flrroewfiys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REES REES, OF KAPUNDA, SQUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

METHOD or AND MEANS non nocxme on comwearmc HEADERS roe STEAM BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed September 2, 1921. Serial No. 498,062.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L, 1313.)

1'0 all relic m it may concern:

Be it lrni'nvn that 1, lines Runs, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Smedley Street, Kapunda, State of South Australia, Commonwealth 01": Australia, have invented a certain new and usetul Improved Method of and Means for Blocking or Cori-ligating Headers for Steam Boilers, (for which I have filed application in Australia, Patent No. 15,951, dated June 9, 1920, and in New Zealand, Patent No. 44,028, dated June 24, 1.920,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the blocking or corrugating of previously formed plain rectangular tubes to form headers for use in the construction of steam boilers. In particular my invention relates to the use in combination with top and bottom dies of a number of specially shaped blocks and an intermediate draw-bar forming as it were a core. The blocks and bar are assembled with the aid oi? several approximately semicircular plugs in an open-topped box and, after removal. of the plugs, are pushed from the box into the plain rectangular tube which has been previously heated; the tube is placed between. the top and bottom dies which are then forced together giving to the tube the desired corrugations. after which the bar withdrawn and the blocks shaken out.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I will describe the same with reference to the' accompanying drawings in which.

Figs. 1 and 2 represent front and end views respectively of a plain rectangular tube as prepared ready for corrugation, Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically the same tube in position between top and bottom dies with the specially shaped blocks and inter mediate draw-bar in place within the tube.

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view showing the top and bottom dies closed with the cor- F rugated tube between them and with the blocks and draw-bar still in position.

5 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing the specially shaped blocks, the semicircular plugs, and the draw-bar assembled. within the opentonpcd box prior to being pushed into the tube.

The header is first made in the form of a plain tube A of rectangular section with open ends as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the required size and shape, by drawing or by bending and welding or by other means as preferred.

The loose blocks B are made oi the several sizes and shapes shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 and by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 6 so that together they form the curves or corrugations required and so that they will readily drop out from the corrugated tube when the draw-bar C has been removed. It will be noticed from Fig. 5 that there are two rows of blocks at the bottom and two rows at the top, the abutting faces of the blocks being inclined and. not vertical.

The loose blocks B are assembled in an open-topped box D, see Fig. 6, the approx1- mately semicircular plugs E which run through the sides of the lJOX assisting in holding the bottom blocks in place until the bar and the upper blocks have been placed in position. When the bottom blocks 13 have been placed in position the bar C is laid upon them and the top blocks are then placed in position upon the bar, the blocks and bar forming as it were a core. \Vhen the blocks are in true position the semicircular plugs E may be and are removed.

The tube A having been heated and placed in position upon the lower die K, the open topped box I) is placed with its one end against the end of the tube A, the semicircular plugs E are withdrawn, and the core formed by the whole of the blocks B together with the bar C is pushed along by a suitable device such as a press into the heated tube A, this position being indicated in Fig. 3.

Pressure is then applied to the dies H and K and the tube being passed between the eX- ternal dies and the internal core it is corrugated to shape as shown in Fig. 4. The dies are operated in the usual manner by means of an hydraulic press or by means of a steam press of the usual construction.

The bar 0 is immediately withdrawn, and upon the now corrugated tube or header being removed from the dies and upended the loose blocks B fall from the header ready for use in another blank.

The ends of the header are then closed by welding or other means, and the header is ready for machining to take the required tubes and connections.

What I claim is 1. The method of blocking or corrugating a plain rectangular tube to form a header for a steam boiler which consists in :-assembling a number of specially shaped blocks and an intermediate draw-bar with the aid of several approximately semicircular plugs in an open-topped box to form as it were a core; inserting the assembled blocks and draw-bar in a heated tube, then pressing the same between top and bottom dies; and then withdrawing first the draw-bar and then the blocks.

2. Means for blocking or corrugating a header for a steam boiler, comprising top and bottom dies, and a core formed of a number of suitably shaped blocks, and an intern'iediate frictionally held draw-bar, the blocks being arranged on opposite sides of the draw-bar in two longitudinal rows on each side, the blocks of the rows on one side bling the blocks and draw-bar, comprising an opeirtopped box and a number oi approximately semicircular plugs running through the sides of the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this th day o'l July l92l.

REES REES. lVitnesses:

KATHLEEN CosrwYcKn SAUNnaRs, ARTHUR Gone Common. 

